Attorney Mark O'Mara arrives at the Seminole County Criminal Justice Center for the bond hearing of his client George Zimmerman, the neighborhood watch volunteer charged with murdering Trayvon Martin, Friday, April 20, 2012, in Sanford, Fla. O'Mara is asking the Seminole County judge to let Zimmerman post bail at the hearing Friday. (AP Photo/John Raoux)— AP

Attorney Mark O'Mara arrives at the Seminole County Criminal Justice Center for the bond hearing of his client George Zimmerman, the neighborhood watch volunteer charged with murdering Trayvon Martin, Friday, April 20, 2012, in Sanford, Fla. O'Mara is asking the Seminole County judge to let Zimmerman post bail at the hearing Friday. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
/ AP

FILE - In this Thursday, April 12, 2012 file photo, George Zimmerman, right, stands next to a Seminole County Deputy during a court hearing in Sanford, Fla. Zimmerman, the neighborhood watch volunteer charged with murdering Trayvon Martin, has a bond hearing scheduled for Friday, April 20, 2012. Whether Zimmerman is allowed to leave Seminole County as he awaits trial, and how he will remain safe, are two questions that likely are going to be at the center of the hearing at the Seminole County Criminal Justice Center, legal experts say. (AP Photo/Orlando Sentinel, Pool, Gary W. Green, File)— AP

FILE - In this Thursday, April 12, 2012 file photo, George Zimmerman, right, stands next to a Seminole County Deputy during a court hearing in Sanford, Fla. Zimmerman, the neighborhood watch volunteer charged with murdering Trayvon Martin, has a bond hearing scheduled for Friday, April 20, 2012. Whether Zimmerman is allowed to leave Seminole County as he awaits trial, and how he will remain safe, are two questions that likely are going to be at the center of the hearing at the Seminole County Criminal Justice Center, legal experts say. (AP Photo/Orlando Sentinel, Pool, Gary W. Green, File)
/ AP

SANFORD, Fla. 
The parents of a Florida neighborhood watch volunteer charged with killing Trayvon Martin told a judge he is not a violent person.

The father of George Zimmerman testified during Friday's bail hearing his son always "turns the other cheek."

His mother said her son is protective of vulnerable people. She said he mentors two African-American children.

Prosecutors raised a 2005 incident where an undercover law enforcement officer said Zimmerman attacked him and an incident where a former girlfriend said she was also attacked.

Zimmerman is charged with second-degree murder. He says he shot Martin in self-defense.

The judge will decide whether to release Zimmerman on bond.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.

The family of a neighborhood watch volunteer charged with killing Trayvon Martin asked a Florida judge Friday to let him out of jail while he awaits trial, and legal experts said he stands a good chance of being granted bail.

George Zimmerman's family testified by phone in the hearing at the Seminole County Criminal Justice Center, saying he is not a flight risk nor a threat to the community. Zimmerman's family members were testifying by phone because they say they have been threatened.

Zimmerman was at the hearing wearing a suit but in shackles. Martin's parents are also present.

"He is absolutely not a violent person," his wife, Shellie Zimmerman, testified.

But assistant prosecutor Bernardo de la Rionda asked her about two incidents. In 2005, George Zimmerman had to take anger management courses after an undercover law enforcement officer accused him of attacking him as he tried to arrest Zimmerman's friend. In another incident, a girlfriend accused Zimmerman of attacking her. No charges were filed.

Legal experts say factors that favor Zimmerman getting bail include his ties to the local community and that he doesn't appear to be a flight risk since he turned himself in voluntarily after second-degree murder charges were filed against him last week. He also has never been convicted of a crime, which would indicate he doesn't pose a threat to society.

"Although it's not routine for people charged with murder to get bond, they do get bond, and I think there is an excellent argument to be made in his specific case for him to be released on bond," said defense attorney Randy McClean, who practices in Seminole County, about 15 miles northeast of Orlando.

Defense attorney Mark O'Mara indicated before the hearing he would ask that Zimmerman be allowed to leave the area, if he is granted bond, because of concerns about his safety. Circuit Judge Kenneth Lester was assigned the case Wednesday after a previous judge recused herself because of a potential conflict of interest.

"Normally, the conditions are that you stay local. I think that is going to be difficult," O'Mara said in an interview. "I think nobody would deny the fact that if George Zimmerman were walking down the street today, he would be at risk. That is a reality."